BENJAMIN TOMSETT FROM HADLOW AND MIDHURST SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING CHILDREN IN WEST SUSSEX

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Hadlow and Midhurst, Benjamin Tomsett, a man with a dark history of sexual offenses against minors, was brought to justice at Portsmouth Crown Court. The proceedings revealed a pattern of heinous crimes committed over a period of six months, during which a seven-year-old girl was subjected to repeated sexual abuse.

Tomsett, who previously resided on Poplar Way in Midhurst, was found guilty of multiple counts related to his abuse of the young girl. His criminal activities began while he was living in Cherry Orchard, Hadlow, and continued after he moved to Midhurst in February of the same year. The extent of his misconduct was uncovered following his arrest, which led to his return to Kent, where he was living on Boxley Road in Maidstone at the time of sentencing.

The court heard that Tomsett was responsible for four separate counts of sexual assault against the girl, who was known to him personally. In addition to these charges, he pleaded guilty to possessing 243 indecent images of unidentified young girls. These images, which were discovered on his seized mobile phone, did not include any of his victim or any other identifiable children. During police investigations, Tomsett admitted that he had downloaded and viewed these images while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but he denied any involvement in the sexual assaults themselves.

As part of his sentence, Tomsett was designated a lifetime registered sex offender. Furthermore, he was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that will remain in effect until further court order. This order imposes strict restrictions on his access to computers and children, aiming to prevent any future offenses.

Detective Constable Amanda Zinyama of the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit provided a statement emphasizing the gravity of the case. She explained, “For six months, this young girl endured systematic assaults by Tomsett, who exploited the trust of her family to carry out these heinous acts within her own home, sometimes even in the presence of family members. It was only when the girl found the courage to disclose the abuse that authorities were alerted.”

Following the disclosure, authorities swiftly acted, seizing Tomsett’s mobile device and uncovering the indecent images. The investigation confirmed that the images did not depict his victim or any other identifiable children. Despite his admission to viewing the images under the influence, Tomsett maintained his denial of the sexual assaults during the trial. The court had to rely heavily on the victim’s detailed and video-recorded testimony, which was played in court and subjected to cross-examination as part of his defense.

Justice was served in this case, but the scars left on the young girl and the community remain. The court’s ruling ensures that Benjamin Tomsett will be monitored closely for the foreseeable future, with measures in place to prevent any further harm.